Morning Linkage – Oct. 24/09

I know it's just preseason but they should have gone out and won this one seeing as it's the last game!!! I'm pretty sure this game mattered to everyone on the team…& Doc might be right maybe there is something just not right about this team…

Fortunately these preseason scrimmages have accomplished one thing, Chris Bosh is officially ready to start playing for real. Bosh played over 36 minutes for the first time this preseason and as importantly, Bosh played over 16 minutes in the second half and was on the floor for the final 7:05. And Bosh played big with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocked shots.

The three-point inefficiency was troubling last night ? one of the two three-pointers was a heave from about 35 feet by Jack to beat the third quarter buzzer so it was a fluke ? and it?s been a bit of a bubbling issue all camp.

The Raps played their last preseason game in Sioux Falls, SD and by the looks of things it wasn't pretty. The Raps, whose starters (save for Hedo Turkoglu who twisted his right ankle) played heavy minutes, lost to an undermanned and less talented Minnesota Timberwolves squad missing K Love and Al Jeff.

The Minnesota Timberwolves used a burst of second-half energy to take over a 98-90 pre-season win against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. Minnesota (3-5) fell behind by 14 points early, only to regroup in its third game in four nights for its second win in as many nights. "I felt like we were a little lackadaisical the first half, but I knew if we run our stuff and brought some energy we could get a win. That's what we have to do," said Corey Brewer, who had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves.

An 11-2 run pushed the Timberwolves to an 11-point lead in the third quarter. The surge came with Toronto's leading pre-season scorer, Andrea Bergnani (13.0) on the bench after getting his fourth foul less than 2 minutes into the period and didn't return until the fourth. Bosh took over, scoring nine of Toronto's 16 points in the quarter. Flynn scored on a drive and Brewer had a three-point play on a breakaway with about five minutes to play to put the Timberwolves in control. DeMar DeRozan's drive with 5:47 remaining gave Toronto its largest lead of the first half, 38-30. Flynn scored six of Minnesota's final eight points to pull the Timberwolves within 46-44 at halftime.

The Minnesota Timberwolves used a burst of second-half energy to take over a 98-90 preseason win against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. Minnesota (3-5) fell behind by 14 points early, only to regroup in its third game in four nights for its second win in as many nights. I felt like we were a little lackadaisical the first half, but I knew if we run our stuff and brought some energy we could get a win. That?s what we have to do,? said Corey Brewer(notes), who had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Having spent most of his working life in the NBA, Toronto Raptors president Bryan Colangelo believes putting a team together is more black art than science. “I always say there?s a gut you have to listen to,? he said. ?It?s your gut instinct on draft picks, on trades, on who might play and give you a chance to win that night.” But hey, there’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. Which is why this week the Raptors listened to a presentation by an unidentified consulting firm on everything from what spot on the floor yields the lowest points per shot in coach Jay Triano’s defensive schemes to the NBA player that best blocks shots and gains possession for his team. (It’s the Los Angeles Lakers: Pau Gasol, by the way.)

The Toronto Raptors landed Turkoglu, signed combo guard Jarrett Jack and drafted guard DeMar DeRozan, hoping a playoff berth will convince impending free agent Chris Bosh to stick around. The Philadelphia 76ers also have a new coach in Eddie Jordan. They hope Elton Brand can remain healthy and Lou Williams can replace the departed Andre Miller at point guard. The Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat reached the playoffs last season but may have trouble getting back. The Pistons may have done too much, hiring rookie coach John Kuester and signing Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. The Heat may not have done enough, adding little around impending free agent Dwyane Wade. The Charlotte Bobcats need a star who commands a double-team. The Indiana Pacers have an All-Star in Danny Granger but a weak backcourt. And the Milwaukee Bucks need a cleanup crew after an off-season fire sale that saw Villanueva, Richard Jefferson and Ramon Sessions exit.

Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors – The Italian centre's confidence soared under the guidance of coach Jay Triano last season, and he finally showed signs of why the Raptors took him with the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft. Armed with a lucrative contract extension, the seven-footer appears poised for a strong season.

18. Hedo Turkoglu
New team, different offense, overpaid, can't be hidden as well on defense because he doesn't have a shot-blocker behind him, signs of decline last season, high expectations, bad karma from boning over the Blazers after a verbal agreement, the day-to-day frazzles of living in a Canadian city ? my s— detector is going off. Sorry, Raptor Truthers. I always trust the s— detector. Just last week, it went off even as Balloon Boy's balloon was still floating through Colorado. Never fails me. I predict a surprisingly disappointing first season for him. And maybe even a goofy injury like plantar fasciities or a partially torn hip labrum. Always gotta trust the s— detector.

But the picture could get fuzzy over the coming months as Bosh heads into a season of uncertainty and the Raptors may be seeing the last of their team captain and poster boy. The six-year veteran appears poised to join an illustrious free agent group this coming off-season that could include LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Questions about the fate of the Raptors' franchise player are sure to swirl around the team as it tries to bounce back from a dismal 2008-09 season — and just how well it can do that will go a long way in determining what jersey Bosh will be wearing come this time next year.